Launching mechanism for torpedoes



J. H. HAMMOND, JR.

LAUNCHING MECHANISM FOR TORPEDOES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. I9I6. RENEWED MAR. 14. IQIB.

1,4:18,795o PatentedJune I922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

WITNESS INVENTOR W flmfilm HIS A TTOR/VEY J. H. HAMMOND, JR.

LAUNCHING MECHANISM FOR TORPEDOES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.12, 1916. RENEWED MAR. 14. 1918.

1,418,795, 'Pawnmwune 6,1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

H/s ATTORNEY. v

WITNESS INVENTOR /4 //I I E s J. H. HAMMOND, JR.

LAUNCHING MECHANISM FOR TORPEDOES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1916. RENEWED MAR. 14. 1918.

1,418,795, Pat t d u e 6, 1922,

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- WI WV E88 INVENTOH LAUNCHING MECHANISM FOR TORPEDOE8.

ars-nae.

Specification M Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1922.

Application filed January 12, 1916, Serial No. 71,710. Renewed March 1 1, 1918. Serial No. 222,515.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN HAYS HAM- MOND, J r., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Gloucester, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Launching Mechanism for Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

One. of the objects of this invention is to provide improved launching mechanism particularly adapted to be'usedin launching a torpedo from a torpedo boat, and arranged to reduce the speed of the torpedo boat automatically and at such a time as to insure an effective launching of the torpedo, and operative to return the boat to its lnitial speed in a predetermined time after the launching has been effected.

Other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a torpedo boat provided with torpedo launching mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention; and Figs. 2 to 6 are diagrammatic plan views of modifiedforms of this invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, one embodiment of this invention comprises a torpedo boat provided with a cylindrical torpedo tube 5 fixedly secured therein and arranged to contain a torpedo 6 and to ermit the same to be launched longitudinally through the open end of the tube and into the surrounding water. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, the torpedo tube 5 is arranged longitudinally of the torpedo boat to launch a torpedo forwardly from the bow of the boat and in the direction of the motion of the boat but the torpedo tube might be arranged in any other desired relation to the boat.

For supplying compressed air to the inner end of the torpedo tube 5 to eject the torpedo 6 from the tube, the inner end of the torpedo tube 5 is connected by a pipe 7 with a pipe 8 which leads from a tank 9 or other source of compressed air upon the boat, the pipe 7 being controlled by a manually adjustable valve 10, and also by a reciprocatory slide valve 11 which is provided with a port 11, and is rigid with one end of a plunger 12 which forms the core of a fixed solenoid 13. A spiral spring 14 surrounds the plunger 12 and is compressed between solenoid 13 and a collar 15 rigid w1th the plunger, and normally holds the slide valve 11 in such a position as to prevent the air from flowing through the inlet pipe 7 and into. the torpedo tube 5.

For propelling the torpedo boat through the water, the boat is provided in the form shown with a pair of propellers 16 and 17 which have swlvelingv or reversible propeller blades 18 and 19 of any well known or suitable construction. These propellers 16 and 17 are mounted upon and arranged to be driven by two parallel shafts 20 and 21 arranged to rotate about their longitudinal axes in suitable bearings and to be rotated by internal combustion engines or any suitabl engines or actuating means (not shown). I

The two propellers 16 and 17 are oper-' atively connected respectively to two sleeves 22 and 23 which are arranged to reciprocate in the corresponding shafts 20 and 21 to swing the corresponding propeller blades 18 and 19 about y axes extending transversely of the shafts 20 and 21 respectively-to vary the pitch of these blades, and to reverse the pitch when the sleeves 22 and 23 are moved through sufiicient distances. For reciprocating the sleeves 22 and 23, two levers 25 and 26 are arranged to oscillate about fixed pivots 27 and 28 respectively, and are provided with pins 30 and 31 rigid therewith respectively which engage loosely in annular recesses 32 and 33 provided therefor in the sleeves 22 and 23. The free communicate with an outlet pipe 45 which is controlled by a manually adjustable needle or globe valve 46. A reciprocatory slide valve 47 having an inlet port 48 and an outlet port 49 is arranged to connect the port 41 alternately with the inlet pipe' 42 and with the outlet pipe 45, and this sllde valve 47 is rigid with a plunger 50 which forms the core of a fixed solenoid 51. A spiral-spring 52 surrounds the plunger 50 and is compressed between the solenoid 51 and a collar 53 rigid with the plunger 50 and normally holds the slide valve in such a position as to prevent air from passing into the inner end of the cylinder from the inlet pipe 42, and to permit the inner end of the cylinder 'to communicate through the outlet port 49 with the outlet pipe 45. A compressed spiral spring 54 within the cylinder 4O normally holds the piston 39 in its innermost position which causes the propeller blades 18 and 19 to be held at such a pitch that when they are rotated they will give the torpedo boat a maximum speed forward.

For reducing the speed of the torpedo boat, and ejecting the torpedo 6 from the tube 5, any suitable means may be provided for controlling the propellers 16 and 17, and the inlet of air into the torpedo tube 5,

. but'in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 there is provided means for successively reducing the speed of the torpedo boat and ejecting the torpedo, and in the form shown, this means includes a battery or other source of electrical energy 60, one pole of which is connected by a coiled wire 61 with a movable contact 62, and the other pole of which is connected by a wire 63 with one end of the solenoid 13. The other The movable contact 62 is carried by the.

inner end of a plunger 66 which reciprocates through a cylinder 67. A piston 68 fits snugly within the cylinder 67, and is rigidly secured to the plunger 66, and the plunger 66 is normally held in an inoperative position by a compressed spiral spring 69 arranged Within the cylinder 67.' The outer end of the cylinder 67 communicates with the surrounding air through a pipe 70 controlled by an inwardly opening check valve 71 and provided with a by-pass 72 controlled by an adjustable needle or globe valve 73, the construction and arrangement being such that the check valve closes auto-- matically when the piston 68 moves outwardly and the air is allowed to pass out of the cylinder only through the by-pass 72, thus retarding the-outward movement of the piston 68, but when the piston moves inwardly under the action of the spring 69 the check valve 71 opens automatically and permits the air to enter freely into the cylinder to expedite the inward movement of the piston 68. The inner end of the cylinder 67 is provided with open ports 74 to permit the air to pass freely into, and out of the inner end' of the cylinder.

the core of a fixed solenoid 75, one end of which is connected by a wire 76 to one pole of a battery 77, the other pole of which is connected by a wire 78 with a normally open switch 79, which is arranged to be moved into and out of enga ement with a stationary contact 80, which is connected by a wire 81 with the other end of the solenoid 75. The switch 79 is normally held open by a spiral spring 82, and is arranged to be closed in any suitable manner or by anv suitable means, as for instance, by any well known or suitable means (not shown) acting in response to radiant energy. The opposite ends of the solenoid 51 for controlling the propellers, are connected by wires 85 and 86 with the wires 76 and 81, respectively, thus connecting the solenoid 51 in para lel with the solenoid 75.

In the operation of the form of this invention just described, when it is desired to launch the torpedo 6 from the tube 5 the switch 79 is closed, as for instance in response to an impulse of radiant energy, or in some other manner, thus energizing the solenoid 75 which will then draw the plun-.

ger 66 slowly inwardly against the action of the spring 69, and the retarding eflect of the pipe 70 and valve 71, thus ultimately causing the movable contact 62 to engage the fixed contact 65, closing the circuit through the battery 60'and solenoid 13 and thus causing the valve 11 to be moved into such a position as to permit compressed air from the source '9 to enter the inner end of the torpedo tube 5 and to eject the torpedo 6 from the tube. But immediately upon the closing of the switch 79 and before the movable contact 62 has been moved into engagement with the stationary contact to cause the ejection of the torpedo, the solenoid 51 controlling the propellers will be energized and will draw the plunger 50 inwardly, thus moving theslide valve 47 into position to permit compressed air to enter from .pedo boat before the air has been admitted to the torpedo tube to eject the torpedo. The outward movement of the sleeves 22 and 23 may be limited soasto cause the propeller blades 18 and 19 to be oscillated into neutral positions, or the sleeves 22 and 23 may be permitted to move outwardly under the action of the piston 39 to a sufiicient extent to reverse the pitch and consequent propelling effect of the propeller blades 18 and 19, and in the latter case the decrease in the rate of movement of the .boat would be more marked. By a proper adjustment of thevalve' 71, the action of the corresponding piston 68 may he so timed as to permit the speed of the torpedo boat to be automatically decreased to an desired extent upon the closing of the switch 72 and before the air has been admitted into the torpedo tube 5 to eject the torpedo 6.

ton 39 is then moved slowly inwardly under the action of the spring 54, the rate of this motion being controlled by the valve'46. As the piston 39 is moved inwardly, it will antomatically increase the pitch of the propellers 18 and 19 so that the boat is gradually brought. up to full speed ahead, or in other words, returned to its initial speed.

In the form of this invention shown in Fig. 2, the arrangement is such that the compressed air is first admitted into the torpedo tube and then acts to'diminish the speed of the boat. In this form of the invention, a torpedo tube 90 is secured in the torpedo .boat in any suitable position to support a torpedo 91, and this tube is provided at its inner end with a pipe 92-controlled by a manually or otherwise operated valve 93, and leading from a tank 94 or other source of compressed air. For controlling the speed of the boat, a pipe'95 leads from the inner end of the torpedo tube 90 into one end of a fixed cylinder 96 which contains a reciprocatory piston 97 secured to one end of a piston rod 98, which carries at its outer' end a contact 99 arranged to reciprocate into and out of engagement with a stationary elongated contact plate 100. The piston 97 is normally held in an inoperative position by means of a compressed spring 101 arranged in the cylinder 96. For controlling the rate of movement of the piston 97, the outer end of the cylinder 96 communicates with the surrounding air through a pipe 102 controlled by an outwardly opening check valve 103 and -provided with a by-pasz- 104 controlled 'by an adjustable needle or globe valve 104',

the construction and arrangement being such that when the piston 97 moves outwardly the air is allowed to pass freely out of the outer end of the cylinder 96 through the check valve 102 and by-pass 104, but when the piston 97 moves inwardly the air is not permitted to pass into the outer end of the cylinder 96' through the check valve 103 but only through the by-pass 104, and the mward movement of the piston 97 may thus be controlled orretarded to any desired extent.

The movable contapt 99 is connected by a coiled wire 105 with one end of a fixed electromagnet 106, the other end ofwhich is connected by a wire 107 with one pole of a battery 108, the other pole of which is connected by a wire 109 with the fixed contact plate 100. The electromagnet 106 is arranged to control a pivoted switch 110 which 1s arranged to cooperate with a stationary contact 111 to control a circuit 112 and 113, theswitch 110 being normally held closed by a spr ng 114, and the circuit 112, 113 being the ignition clrcuit or circuits of the driving means by the breaking of which one or more of the internal combustion driving engines is stopped. The circuit 112, 113 however, may be arranged eto control-the speed of the boat in any other suitable manner.

In the operation of the modified form of this invention shown in Fig. 2, when it is desired to launch the torpedo, the valve 93 is opened in any suitable manner, or by any suitable means, thus admitting air from the tank 94 into the inner end of the torpedo tube 90 where it initiates the launching movement of the torpedo 91, and simultaneously presses the piston 97 quickly upwardly, thus closing the circuit through the battery 108 and electromagnet 106 to decrease the speed of the boat, and the construction arrangement may be such that a modification of the action of the propelling means to decrease the speed of the boat will be effected at about the same time that the torpedo 91 issues from the tube 90 under the action of the compressed air in the tube.

After the torpedo has left the tube and the supply of air from the tank 94 has been shut off by closing the valve 93, the piston 97 will be moved inwardly by-the spring 101, its rate of motion being controlled by the adjustable valve 104', so that a certain predetermined length of time will elapse after the firing ofthe torpedo and before the circuit through the solenoid 106 will be broken by the contact 99 moving from the contact 100. When the solenoid 106 is deenergized, the circuit is again completed through the wires 113 and 114, and the engines restarted by any suitable means and in any suitable manner so as to return the boat to its initial speed.

In the modified form of this invention shown in Fig. 3, the construction may be the same as that hereinbefore described and shown in Fig. 2, except that instead of providing means for controlling the speed of the boat by breaking the ignition circuit as shown in Fig. 2, means are provided whereby the speed of the boat is decreased by changing the times of sparking in the cylinders of the internal combustion engines driving the propellers. In this modified form of the invention, the wires 105 and 107 of Fig. 2 instead of leading to the electromagnet 106, are arranged to lead to the opposite ends of a solenoid 120 arranged to control a core 121 which forms one end of a rod 122 arranged to reciprocate inafixed path and-to oscillate arms 123 and 124 which are rigid with rotatable sleeves 1'25 and 126 which control in a well known manner the times of sparking in the cylinders of the gas engines, which in this form of the invention are arranged to rotate the propellers of the boat. In this form of the invention a spiral spring 126 surrounding the core 121 and compressed between the solenoid 120 and a collar 127 rigid with the core 121, normally holds the rod 122 in such a position as to cause the engines to operate at their maximum rate, and when the solenoid 120 is energized, as by closing the switch 99 in Fig. 2, the arms 123 and 124 will be swung clockwise to vary the times of sparking in the engines and thus decrease the speed of the engines, and consequently the speed of the torpedo boat. When the solenoid 120 is deenergized by the opening of the switch 99, the arms 123 and 124 will be returned to their original position by the action of the spring 126 so as to return the boat to its initial speed.

In the form of this invention shown in Fig. 4, the construction is such that the speed of the boat is decreased by throttling the propelling engines simultaneously with the admission of air into the torpedo tube to eject the torpedo from the tube. In this form of the invention, the construction is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and hereinbefore described, comprising a torpedo tube 5 arranged to support a torpedo 6, and communicating through a pipe 7 with a. source 9 of compressed air, the pipe 7 being con-- trolled by a valve 10 and by a slide valve 11 arranged to be actuated as the result of the energization of a solenoid 13, as hereinbefore described and shown in Fig. 1.

One end of the solenoid 13 is connected through a wire 130 with one pole of a battery 131, the other pole of which is connected by a wire 132 with a fixed contact 133, which is arranged to be engaged by a pivoted switch 134 which is connected by wire 135 with the other end of the solenoid 13, the switch 134 being normally held open by a spring 135' and being arranged to be closed in any suitable manner, as for 1n-' stance, by the closing of a circuit through a fixed electromagnet 136. The wires 130 and 135 are connected by wires 137 and 138 to the opposite ends of a solenoid 139, which is arranged to reciprocate-a piston rod 140 one end of which 'forms a core for the solenoid 139, and the other end of which is provided with a piston 141 arranged to reciprocate in a fixed cylinder 142, the piston 141 being normally held in its outermost posi tion in the cylinder 142 by a spiral spring 143.

" and provided with a by-pass 146 controlled by an adjustable needle or globe valve 147,

the construction and arrangement being such that when the piston 141 moves outwardly or towards the right the air passes freely out of the right hand end of the cylinder through the check valve 145 and by-pass 146, but when the piston 141 moves towards the left the air is allowed to pass into the right hand end of the cylinder only through the by-pass 146, and the rate of movement of the piston 141 under the action of the spring 143 may therefore be regulated or controlled by a suitable adjustment of the needle or globe valve 147. The outer or left hand end of the cylinder 141 is provided with open ports 147 to permit free movement of the air into and out of the left hand end of the cylinder..

The piston rod 140 is provided with two pins 146 and 147 fixed thereon, which engage slidably in slots 148 and 149 in levers 150 and 151 which are rigid with stems 152 and 153 which are arranged to control the throttles of the engines for actuating the propellers 16 and 17 of the boat. The stems 152 and 153 might be arranged to control not only the throttle valves of the engines, but also the spark system as hereinbefore described.

In the operationfiof this modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 4, when the switch 134 is closed as in response to an impulse of radiant energy or in any other suitable manner, the two solenoids 13 and 139 will be simultaneously energized to open the slide valve 11, and thus admit compressed air into the tube 5 to expel the torpedo 6, and to simultaneously move the rod 140 towards the right, the valve 145 allowing free passage of air when piston is moved to the-right to reduce the speed of the engines and consequently the speed of the cat.

When the solenoid 136 is deenergized the switch 134 is opened under the action of the spring thus deenergizing solenoids 13' 'piston'14l being determined by the setting of the valve 147 so that the boat is gradually brought up to the speed in a predetermined length of time.

In the form of this invention shown in Fig. 5', the construction and arrangement is similar to that hereinbefore described and shown in Fig. 2, except that instead of providing means for e ecting the torpedo by compressed air, means. are provided for ejecting the torpedo as the result of theexl plosion of suitable explosive .material arranged in the torpedo tube.

' which is arranged a suitable explosive ma-f terial or mixture of material 162' and a fuse 163 for exploding'the-same, the fuse being arranged to be rendered efi'ectlve by'means of an electric circuit 164 leading through.-a

causing the solenoid 169 to be energized when the solenoid '180 is energized .by the closing of the-switch 166. This solenoid 169 may be arranged'to control the speed of the boat in any suitable manner. For instance, this solenoid '169 may be arranged to act in a manner similar to that of the action of the solenoid 51 shown in Fig. 1 to 'cooperate with the parts there shown for changingthe pitch of the propellers 16 and 17, or the solen'oicll69 might be arranged to act in a manner similar to that of the battery 165 and a normally open pivoted\action of the solenoid 139 shown in Fig. 4 to switch or other suitable switch 166. The torpedo tube 160 is provided as hereinbefore described in connection with Fig. 2, with an outlet pipe 95 and other cooperating parts 96, etc. for energizing an electromagnet 106 to open a normally closed circuit 112, 113.

In the operation of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, when the switch 166 is, closed, the explosive material 162 is exploded, thus generating a high gaseous pressure at the inner end of the torpedo to eject the torpedo from the tube 160, and this gaseous pressure simultaneously passes through the pipe 95 and forces the piston 97 outwardly to close the circuit through the electromagnet 106 and to break the ignition circuit 112, 113 of the propelling engine or engines. A predetermined time after the torpedo 6 has been thus ejected from the tube 160, the electromagnet 106 is deenergized by the movement of the movable contact 99 from the contact plate 100' thus permitting the closing of the ignition circuit 112, 113, which will cause the propelling engine or engines toreturn to their initial speed as hereinbefore described.

In the form of this invention shown in Fig. 6, the torpedo tube '160 for holding the torpedo 6 is provided with a rounded end 161 containing a suitable explosive material or mixture of materials 162 arranged to be exploded by the fuse 163 controlled by a circuit 170, including a battery 171, a movable contact 172 and fixed contact plate 173.

The movable contact 172 is carried on a rod 174 to which is attached a piston 175. This piston moves in a cylinder 176 under the action of a spring 177, the rate of motion being controlled by the valve mechanism 178 which is similar to that used in Fig.1 in connection with cylinder 67. The movable contact 172 is normally out of engagement with the fixed contact plate 173 by a trip 179, which forms the core of a solenoid 180 and which is held in engagement by a spring 181. The solenoid 180 is controlled by a circuit 164, including a battery 165 and normally open switch 166 as hereinbefore described, and the circuit 164 is connected by wires 167 and 168 with the opposite ends of a solenoid 169, thus connecting the sole.- noid in parallel with the solenoid 180 and cooperatewith the parts there shown for controlling the throttles of the propelling engines and thus cooperate with the torpedo launchingmeans to control the speed of-the boat, as hereinbefore described.

Although only a few of the many forms in which this invention may be embodied have been shown and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific construction but might be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the'appended claims.

Having .thus fully described this invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a movable body of propelling means therefor, means for pelling means, and means controlled by the said modif ing means for causing the actuation of sa1d launching means.

3. The combination. with a movable body of propelling means therefor, means for launching a projectile from-said body, means operative to modify the action of sa1d propelling means, and means cooperating with the said modifying means for causing the actuation of said launching means.

4. The combination with a movable body of propelling'means therefor, means for launching a projectile from said body, and means automaticall operative for successively modifying t e action of said propelling means and initiating the action of said launching means.

' 5. The combination with a movable body of propelling .means therefor, fluid pressure means for launching a projectile from said body, means for modifying the action of said propelling means, and means controlled by said modifying means for con trolling said fluid pressure launching means.

6. The combination with a movable body, of means including a propeller for actuating said body, means for discharging a projectile from said body, and means cooperating with said discharging means for varying the speed of said body by changing the pltch of said ropeller.

7 he combination with a movable body, of propelling means therefor, means for launching a projectile from sa1d body, and means cooperatln with said launching means for automatically controlling the action of said propelling means so as to clecrease and then to increase the speed of said bod 8. The combination with a movable body, of a su port carried thereby for holding a projecti e, means for discharging a pro ectile from said support while said body is in motion at a given 'rate,'and means operatively connected to said discharging means for modifyin said rate.

9. The combination with a movable body, of a support carried thereby for holding a projectile, means for discharging a pro ectile from said support while said body is in motion at a given rate, and means operatively connected to said discharging means for reducing said rate.

10. The combinationwi'th a movable body, of a support carried thereby for holding a projectile, means for discharging a pro ectile from said support while said body is in motion at a given rate, and means controlled by said discharging means for modifyingsaid rate. a

11. The combination with a movable body,

of a'sup ort carried thereby for holding a projecti means for discharging a ro ectile from said supportwhile said b y is in motion at a given rate, and means controlled by said discharging means for reducing said rate.

12. The combination with a movable body, of a support carried thereby for holding a projectile, means for discharging a .pro ectile from said support while sald body is moving, and means controlled by said discharging means and automatically operative first to reduce and then to increase the 'rate JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR- 

